Filing system



Oct. 6, 1931. A. A. lNswoRTH 1,825,845.

FILING SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. A. AlNswoRTH:

FILING SYSTEM y Filed/May 2, 193CA Oct. 6, 1931.

Oc't. 6, .1931. A. A. AlNswoRTH 1,325,845

FILING SYSTEM Filed May 2, 195o 4 sheets-Sheer s W-' lf 'NATIONAL SAND BANK 9ct-6, 1931.- A. A. lNswoR'TH Y 1,825,845

FILING SYSTEMv Filed May 2, 1930 4 v sheets-sheet 4 N0 l NATIONAL SAND BANK '9 E N0. New WRI( "9 E PIN-m E y Daums A i \L H I l 25 I .vwezzvv erw,

Patented Oct. 6, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE .ALBERT A. AINSWORTH, OF OSSINING, NEW YORK i FILING Application filed May 2,

The invention relates to improvements In filing systems, and more paticularly t'o a system whereby canceled checks may be conven` `iently filed with the original stubs. While 'Ihe invention is particularly applicable to checks, the broad features are also applicable to any duplex ticket or the like, Athe parts of which aretemporarily separated and which it is desirable to subsequently file together.

According to present practice, when checks are made out they are detached from the stubs and when the canceled checks are returned they are either destroyed or kept entirely separate from the stubs. The result: '.s that the only readily available records of any transaction is the check stub, and it is very dicult, if not impossible, to find the cancelled check which corresponds to the particular stub, especially after a considarable period of time has elapsed.

According to my invention, the check and stub are so designed that they may be conveniently filed together, preferably in a suitable permanent flling device. The ihng device employed may be similar to that disclosed in my "prior Patent No. 1,461,57 0, granted July 10, 1923, or may be of other sultable type. The checks and stubs are preferably formed with cooperating tongues and slots, the slots being desirably formed 1n the stubs and the tongues formed on the checks, although a reversal of this arrangement may I- be resorted to without departing from the inventive thought.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich n Fig. 1 is a ltop plan view showing a pavd containing a pluralit of detachable checks and stubs formed wit tongues and slots in accordance with the ent invention; Y Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 2-2'of Fig. 4 showing the mode of attaching the canceled checks and stubs in a folding member similar to that disclosed -in my prior Patent No. 1,461,570;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a roll form of filing device vhaving canceled checks and their respective stubs tiled therein;

principles of the pres-l SYSTEM 1930. seriai No. 449,339.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view showing a portion of a folder having check and stubs led there- 1n;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary bottom view on a reduced scale of the folder shown in Fig.- 4 and showing the gummed portion of the foldell' whereby the checks and stubs are secured in p ace;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modification of the checks and stubs;

Fig. 7 vis a top plan view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the modied check of Fig. 6 1n place within the folder;

Fig. 8 is a perspective View showing a means. for temporarily ling the stubs from which checks have been detached prior to permanently ling the stubs with the canceled checks. i 'i Fig. 9 shows another modification of the check and stub led in a suitable folder;

Fig. 10 shows a still further modification` of the check and stub, and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view on reduced scale showing a check and stub fastened together by means of the tongue and slot without the use of any other filing device.

Referring first to the form of the device shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5, there is shown in Fig. 1 a pad comprising a plurality of temporarily connected check and stubs, the checks being adapted topbe detached from the stubs in the usual manner after having been -illed out. The stubsy are indicated by the reference numerals v10-10-10 and the checks by the reference numerals '11--'l1-11. As shown, parts of three checks are indicated, the same being connected by perforated lines 12-12 to facilitate detachment of the checks. The stubs are likewise separated by perforated lines 13-13, which are extensions of the lines 12-12 separating the checks.

The stubs are provided with slots 14, one for each stub, and the checks are provided with tongues 15, the'tongues being connected to the stubs by means of perforated lines 16-16. It willbe noted that the upper and lower margins 17-17 of each of the tongues are inclined and that the width of each tongue where it joins the body of the check is substantially equal to or slightly greater 1.0,

than the le h of the corresponding slot 14. taching individual record slips, in this case While in ig. 1 the tongues and Vslots are the combined checks and stubs.

formed adjacent to each other in their respective checks and stubs, nevertheless they may be formed on opposite ends if desired, as indicated in Fig. 6. According to this arrangement, the stubs 10 are provided with slots 18 at the left of the stubs and the checks 11 are provided with tongues 19 at the right of the checks. The checks and stubs may be detachably connected by perforated lines 19.

In Fig. 9 the stub is provided with a slot 20 adjacent the upper portion thereof and the check is provided with a tongue 21 likewise formed in the upper portion thereof.

'In Fig. 10 the stub is provided with a slot 22 at the lower portion thereof and the check with a tongue 23 likewise at the lower portion.

While in these modifications and in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the slot is formed on the stub and the tongue on the check, nevertheless it is within the spirit of the broad features f the ipvention to provide a slot in the check, and the corresponding tongue on the stub. From this it will be evident that the particular location of the slot and tongue may be varied as desired to suit particular needs. It will also he noted that, While in Figs. 1 and G the checks are shown as formed in pads comprising a plurality of rows of checks and stubs,A in Fig. the pad is made up of a single sheet ofv stubs and checks, this arrangement being a very convenient form of pad. y

In use the checks are filled out in the ordinary manner and theA stubs similarly filled out. The checks are then detached from the stubs and the stubs themselves may be temporarily filed asindicatedinFig.8. As shown, the temporary liling device comprises a base 24 havinvr a vertical post 25 to receive the Slots 18 of stubs l0. These stubs are retained on the temporary file until the. end of the month, or until such time as the canceled checksare returned by the bank. The stubs are then removed from the temporary file, assorted, and placed with their respective checks. The stubs and checks are then secured together, preferably by the use of a suitable filing device. According to the arrangement shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5, the filing device is similar to that disclosed in'my Patent- No. 1,461,570, and includes a leaf -2G which may be one cover of a vertical' filing folder connected by a. pivot line 26 to the other sheet of the folder. The leaf 26 is provided with a plurality of holding tabs 27 formed bysuitable incisions or slits. These tabs may be arranged in parallel groups, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5, or a single row may be employed, or any desired number of rows. The tabs are preferably gummed as at 28 on the reverse side as indicated in Fig. 5 of the drawings, in order to provide means for at- In attaching the stubs and checks to the filing device, the stub 10 is first ap lied, the

slot 14 fitting over the tab 27 as in icated in the upper portion of Fig. 4. The canceledcheck 11 is then secured to the tab, the tongue adhering to the glued under side of the tab. It will be' noted that the stub is in this manner firmly held in position on the one side by the base of the tab 27, or that portion of the tab Where it connects with the body of the folder, and is held in place on the other side by the tongue where it joins on the body of the check. By providing the slots 14 of a length substantially equal to or slightly less than the widest portions of the tongues and tabs, respectively, and by having the margins of the tongues and tabs inclined, it is obvious that the stubs will be kept in substantial alignment with their respective checks. The

positions of the stubs and checks in their respective slots and grooves in their relation to the tabs on the vertical folders is most clearly illrstrated in Fig. 2, the main body of the stub having been folded overl as illustrated also at the lower portion of Fig. 4, and the portion 29 of the stub which extends beyond the slot 14 resting under the tongue 15 of the check. Obviously any desired number of checks and stubs can be applied to the filing device.

The slotted stub and tongued check may be used with the filing device in another way, as follows:

The stub is first folded along a line coincident with its slot, preferably the median line thereof, and the tongued edge of the check is inserted into the fold with the tongue protruding through the slot. The folded stub and check are then firmly grasped near the' folding line of the stub, and the tongue is slipped under the moistened tab of the folder. l

The tab is pressed down on the tongue to cause it to adhere and the operation is complete. The folding line of the stub acts as a hinge for the stub, which can be turned over like a leaf of a book. The tongue of the check is sufficiently flexible to permit turning withoutcreasing or folding. This method of placing both papers in the filing device in one operation is much more simple and easy, as well as less likely to injure the parts than the method of placing the stub-and check in the filing device separately.

Still another manner of securing the stub and check to the file or folder consists in passing the tongue of the check through the slot of the stub and swinging the body of the check down until it lies flat upon the stub. The free edge ofthe tongue is now directly over the edge of the slotted end of the stub. The papers are now turned over and grasped firmly to hold them together while the interlocked ends are slipped under a moistened Y body of the file or backing or from a separate,

tab, and the tongue bein on the top, comes into direct contact with tie moistened under surface of the tab and is caused to adhere thereto. By this method, the'stub as well as the check is firmly held to the tongue, having no freedom of motion lengthwise of the tab.

The slotted stub and check can be secured to the tab even if there is no tongue on the check, but the check and stub are not so easily placed in position.

:It is obvious that both the tongue on the check and the slot or slit in the stub are peculiarly adapted to cooperate with each other or With a tab which is formed by making in` cisions which leave an opening in the body of thelile Whena tab is struck up. As described above, the slot may receive either the tongue orthe tab, orboth, and the tongue may protrude through the slot in the stub or the opening in the file, or both. These advantages are present whether the tabs are cut out from the sheet or slip pasted thereon. A

1n Fig. 7, the form of check shown in Fig. S is indicated as attached to a folder in a manner similar to that just described. In

F ig. 9 a somewhat different form of check is shown applied to a folder.

1n Fig. 8 there is shown a modified' form of tiling device, Whichv in this ca'se is in the form of a roll 30 gumzned on the reverse side at 31 and provided with a plurality of tabs 32 sim` Y ilar to those employed in the vertical iiling indicated in Fig. 11. As shown, the tongue t V.being adapted to pass through sald slots,

folder already described. The checks and stubs areattachedto-the tabs of the roll in the same manner as they are to the vertlcal `-lfolder, the roll being gradually unwound as additional checks are applied thereto. When the tabs are entirely filled, the Wholemay be again Wound into a roll,'which may be stored in any convenient place, or instead of rolling, it may be folded up into suitable lengths and stored Hat. .2

VIf desired, thestubs and checks `may be secured together merely by means o f the1r respective slots and tongues 14 and 15, as

Y portion 15, after having been insertediin the slot 14, is folded over to provide a temporary connection between the check and stub.

1f desired, a permanent attachment may be that the parts be filed together.

provided by applying adhesive to a suitable portion, as for example, to the upper side of the tongue 15. y

While the invention has been described particularly with reference tothe filing of checks, it is obvious that the same inventive thoughtmay'be applied to any duplex ticketV '4 ence or absence of printedmatter. The invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration, but it will be obvious that various modifications may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It will-be further noted that While in practice the filing device is provided With tabs and the checks with tongues, checks Without tongues could be applied to the tabs of the tiling device, and Where checks with tongues are employed, straight slits may be substituted for the form of tabs disclosed in my prior Patent No. 1,461,570. Vith 'eitherof these modifications the broad inventive thought of ling the slotted stub With the check in a suitable slitted folder Will still be present.

lVhat is claimed is:

1.1n a system for ling together checks and their respectiveA stubs, in combination, a tiling sheet having tabs thereon, and checks and stubs having interlitting means for preventing separation when either is moved in certain directions, the lile having means for preventing separation in any other direction when one of the parts is gummed to a tab.

2.111 asystem for filing together` sheets in pairs, in combination, a tiling sheet, a tab thereon, and tWo sheets, `one having a slot and the other a corresponding tongue eX- 'tending through the slot and held against separable parts, one part having a tongue and-the other slotted to receive said tongue Awhen s'aid parts are separated; a filing device or receiving said parts when so assembled, said device comprising a sheet having gummed tabs formed thereon, said tabs also whereby upon adhesivelysecuring the tongues to said tabs, the parts are permanently tiled together.

' 5. The vcombination with a filing device comprising a sheet having a tab cut out from the material of the sheet intermediate the edges thereof, of astub or other sheet having a slot in which the tab is received when the stub is tiled, and separate means secured to the tab for holding the stub in place. y

6. The combination with a filing device comprising a sheet having a tab cut out from the material ofthe sheet intermediate the edges thereof, leaving an opening -When the tab is bent out of the plane of the sheet, of

a sheet having a tongue adapted to be pro-l jected throu h said opening and secured to the under si e of said tab when the tongued sheet is filed.

7 The combination with a filing device comprising a sheet having a tab cut out from the material of the sheet intermediate the edges thereof, leaving an opening when the tab is bent out of the plane of the sheet, of a sheet having a tongue adapted to be rojected through said opening and secure to the under side 0f said tab when the tongued sheet is filed, and a slotted sheet threaded on said tongue.

8. The combination with a filing device comprising a sheet having a tab cut out from the material of the sheet intermediate the edges thereof, of a stub or other sheet having a slot in which the tab is received when the stub is filed, and a check or other article secured to the under side of said tab and holding the stub in place.

In testimony whereof I affix my si ALBERT A. AINSWO ature. TH. 

